I bought 2 6-8 inch shubunkin for my pond today. My pond is functioning but I am letting it cycle so it probably won't be ready until the weekend. Anyway I have been keeping some large comets of a similar size, from the same dealer tank even in a 20 gallon tub without incident.
I got a larger tub for the two shubunkins, set it up before I got them. Has a pump, filter media, treated the water and the water was about 70 degrees when I started floating them. The fish were really frisky on the way home in the bag, scared really, very jumpy fish.
Anyway, after I floated them and put them in the tank they have been staying at the bottom and rarely move. My comets were shy but not like this and I am worried they are going to die. One moves a little more then the other one and he goes and swims towards the other one but the second only moves when startled. Did a water test, ph, alkaline were high and we have hard water. I took care of the ph and alkaline, can hard water kill fish? Can fish die from pure stress?
It is colder today, the water is already around 60 degrees tonight. The other fish seem to tolerate it. Are shubunkins more sensitive? They are so pretty, I really would like them in my pond! I've heard koi are more sensitive but I thought shubunkins were as hardy as comets.
Thanks!
Sluggish and Scared Shubunkins
This morning they look better despite it being unseasonably cold and rainy. I think they are just very frightened of their new surroundings.
My koi have been pretty much the same and I have had the 13 of them from 5 days ago to 3 weeks ago. Over the weekend one isolated himself and I had read that isolation is a sign of serious trouble in koi (health-wise). I called my fish retailer (very informed Koi guy) and he told me to salt the pond that either he's sick or extremely stresses and on the verge of getting sick. Maybe I should mention that I did all the tests and everything was at 0 except pH was a 9. There was and never has been salt in my pond. I was told with the pH and koi that this level of pH actually enhances their colors and as long as the ammonia level is within a safe range the pH being high is okay. I was told to add salt to the pond as well as dip this particular fish for a minute to three minutes. One interesting thing I learned is that I didn't have to use that specialty pond labeled salt. My pond guy said that I should save the money and buy the purest form of salt for well water softeners without additives and add the whole bag (40 pounds for my 4500 gallon pond). I added it into the various waterfall areas and within 20 minutes it was add melted and not a trace in my falls. Within 1/2 an hour my fish all perked up a lot including Mister Isolation. He joined the group and they all had a nice swim around the pond. Obviously they really needed this salt. Being that fish are young and new they are very skittish but they never really swam around outside of the deep area but with the salt they were still skittish but swam all over the pond.
Go to Koivet.com for a great source of information on this salting procedure and everything else you might want to know about your fish. I am new and I have been to that site a few times and always found my answers there.
I have read about salting and actually tried a dip on a sick feeder fish a few weeks ago. I ended up killing the poor thing but I think it was too far gone anyway.
The two shubunkins huddle together and act like they want to hide under something. I have a hard time thinking they are sick, they were so active and healthy looking which is why I picked them. I think they are just frightened and now cold. I hope they live, they are very nice and would look good in the pond. I spent $10 on each of them because they are a good size already.
I'll have to read more about salting. Just filled my new pond so will be hopefully adding fish within a few weeks.
Does your pond offer any hiding coverage for your fish like a rock ledge hangover or something like that where the fish can go under it and hide when they are frightened? Maybe something like that will help put them at ease.
Right now they are in a large tub pond while my pond cycles. I will look for something to put in there so they can hide better. They have several floating plants, which my comets seem to like, but I think they'd perfer something on the bottom.
Earlier I gave them a bit a food and one came up and looked at me before swimming off. I'll take that as a good sign:)
The fish can be in the pond while it cycles. It will cycle faster. It shouldn't be any more stressful for the fish than being in the tub. Just watch the ammonia levels. If they start to get high use Ammolock. If the nitrate level gets high salt in the water blocks osmoregulation uptake by the fish. They don't absorb it and they stay healthy. Salt to a level of .01, .02 max. However, .02 can damage some plants. I think all shubunkins are a litttle shy by nature. Be real careful about that salt. NaCl period. No softening additives. Remember that salt levels increase as water evaporates. Salt does not evaporate. It can splash out with the water but it will not evaporate. And lets hear it for some sustained warm weather. They're talking about a possible frost here tonight!
Frost and its almost June! High of 60 here today, better then 49:)
We didn't get a frost - whew! But my tropical water lilys are thinking they must have done something wrong to wind up in my pond. Usually the weather here this time of year is 70 day 55 night. It's been 60 day and 45 night. Big difference.